2012College FootballSeason Preview

2012 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team

Fresno State QB Derek Carr (Jr.) Named Preseason MW Offensive Player of the Year

Mountain West Conference Press Release
July 24, 2012

LAS VEGAS - The 2012 Preseason all-Mountain West Football Team was announced today at the league's annual Media Days, held at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The team, as selected by members of the media, features eight players that were all-MW selections in 2011, including three first-team honorees. The 25-member squad is comprised of 16 seniors, eight juniors and one sophomore.

Fresno State junior quarterback Derek Carr was named Preseason MW Offensive Player of the Year, while San Diego State senior defensive back Leon McFadden was selected Preseason MW Defensive Player of the Year and Boise State redshirt senior return specialist Mitch Burroughs was tabbed Preseason MW Special Teams Player of the Year.

In 2011, Carr threw for 3,544 yards to rank 15th nationally on the season and third all-time at Fresno State. During his sophomore campaign, the native of Bakersfield, Calif., tallied 26 touchdowns against just nine interceptions. He threw for 272.6 yards per game and completed 62.6 percent of his passes (279-of-446) in his first year as a starter. His 279 completions and 446 attempts ranked as the second-most ever by a Fresno State signal caller in a single season.

McFadden led the Mountain West and ranked 12th nationally in passes defended (17) last season. The Inglewood, Calif., product also notched 46 tackles (35 solo), 15 pass breakups, three tackles for loss (-11 yards), two interceptions and a sack.

Burroughs ranked first in the Mountain West and eighth nationally in punt returns a year ago, averaging 13.3 yards on 18 returns. The senior from Meridian, Idaho, returned five kickoffs in 2011 for 114 yards and ranked third on the Broncos with 947 all-purpose yards.

2012 Preseason All-Mountain West Football Team:

POS.

PLAYER

CLASS

SCHOOL

Offense

QB

Derek Carr

Jr.

Fresno State

WR

Matt Miller

R-So.

Boise State

WR

Colin Lockett

Jr.

San Diego State

RB

Robbie Rouse

Sr.

Fresno State

RB

Chris Nwoke**

Jr.

Colorado State

OL

Chris Barker

Sr.

Nevada

OL

Joe Kellogg

R-Sr.

Boise State

OL

Weston Richburg**

Jr.

Colorado State

OL

Nick Carlson**

Sr.

Wyoming

OL

Jeff Nady

Sr.

Nevada

TE

Gavin Escobar*

Jr.

San Diego State

Defense

DL

Mike Purcell

Sr.

Wyoming

DL

Mike Atkinson

R-Sr.

Boise State

DL

Paipai Falemalu

Sr.

Hawai`i

DL

Jack Reynoso

Jr.

Nevada

LB

Travis Brown

Sr.

Fresno State

LB

Shaquil Barrett

Jr.

Colorado State

LB

Alex Means

Sr.

Air Force

DB

Leon McFadden*

Sr.

San Diego State

DB

Duke Williams

Sr.

Nevada

DB

Luke Ruff**

Sr.

Wyoming

DB

Jamar Taylor

R-Sr.

Boise State

Specialists

P

Pete Kontodiakos**

Sr.

Colorado State

PK

Parker Herrington#*

Sr.

Air Force

Ret.

Mitch Burroughs

R-Sr.

Boise State

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Derek Carr, Jr., QB, Fresno State

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Leon McFadden, Sr., DB, San Diego State

Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year:
Mitch Burroughs, R-Sr., RS, Boise State

# - unanimous 2012 preseason selection.
* - member of the 2011 All-Mountain West Conference first-team.
** - member of the 2011 All-Mountain West Conference second-team.